Moving to Malta from the UK: a complete guide

Planning on moving to sunny, picturesque Malta? You’re not alone, since over 15,000 Brits already live there.¹ In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about moving to Malta from the UK, including the cost of living, what has changed for Brits after Brexit and much more.

We’ll also point out a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders from the money services provider Wise. Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Malta for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate.

Want to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.

Table of contents

Can you move to Malta from the UK? Moving to Malta from the UK after Brexit How to get a Maltese visa? How to move to Malta from the UK? What’s the cheapest way to get to Malta from the UK? Options for retiring in Malta Retirement visas⁷ Pensions⁸ Living in Malta - what you need to know Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Malta?¹⁰ Healthcare system¹¹ Opening a Maltese bank account¹² Finding a job in Malta¹³ Renting or buying property in Malta¹⁵ Checklist for moving to Malta from the UK Save on your relocation costs to Malta with Wise

Can you move to Malta from the UK?

Yes, you can move to Malta from the UK, but it might be more complicated than before.

Due to Brexit, the status of UK nationals in Europe has changed. However, there are still many options for moving to Malta from the UK.

Moving to Malta from the UK after Brexit

You don’t need an entry visa for Malta. But, since Brexit happened, UK nationals can only stay in Malta visa-free for 3 months.

However, leaving the EU also opened up some possibilities that only non-EU citizens had in the past. For example, the Golden Visa scheme or the EU Blue Card are now available to British people as well.

Let’s mention some of the ways to get visas or permits in Malta.

How to get a Maltese visa?

In order to work in Malta, you’ll need to apply for a type D visa. After this you can get a work permit based on your profession. If you want to get permanent residence, you’ll need to live in Malta for at least five years and have proof of income from legitimate sources, among other things.²

Non-EU individuals can get permanent residence through the Malta Golden Visa scheme, better known as Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP). By investing a certain amount in real estate, whether through renting or buying, you will get to live and work in Malta. Your family members, such as your spouse, children, parents or grandparents, can also be included in your application.³

If you have high professional skills that can help some of Malta’s employee shortages, you might qualify for residence through the EU Blue Card. The other main condition is that you obtain a work contract for a minimum of one year, where you’ll be receiving 1.5x the average gross annual salary.⁴

How to move to Malta from the UK?

First, you need to pick the route you want to take. There are multiple ways of moving to Malta from the UK, whether it’s through investing, work or marriage. Once that’s out of the way, you can officially apply.

Identità is the Maltese agency responsible for visas, residence permits and the registration of public deeds and acts of civil status. They’re the ones to contact if you need a long-stay visa or a residence permit, whether temporary or permanent.

Make sure you check for the most recent information for any visa route you’re interested in.

What’s the cheapest way to get to Malta from the UK?

The most convenient and often most affordable way to get to Malta from the UK is by plane. At the moment, the cheapest month to fly is May, when you can get a one-way ticket for only £13.⁵

The average ticket prices are higher and it’s not always possible to find a good deal. A more realistic price you can expect to pay is between £80 and £150 for a one-way ticket.⁶

📚 Read more: How to use the UK-issued Wise card abroad?

Options for retiring in Malta

Whether you’re approaching retirement or just planning ahead, you might be considering Malta as a potential retirement destination. There are various reasons to retire in Malta, from the climate and beaches to the great quality of life.

But how easy is it to retire in Malta? Here are the things you should be aware of:

Retirement visas⁷

UK nationals can retire in Malta through the Malta Retirement Programme. There are many requirements, such as purchasing or renting a property and having health insurance. The property should cost from €220,000 to €275,000 at least, depending on the location. If you’re renting, the price should start at €8,750 to €9,600.

Pensions⁸

You can claim your UK state pension if you retire in Malta. It can be paid into your UK bank account or your new Maltese account, in which case you’ll be paid in euros. You can also choose how often you’ll get paid - anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks. Make sure you contact the International Pension Centre to get the most recent information.

Living in Malta - what you need to know

Here are some basic facts for you to know about Malta if you’re considering moving there:

• Currency - Euro (EUR)
• Main languages - Maltese, English
• Population - 536,465⁹
• Number of British expats - around 15,000¹

Cost of living - how much money do you need to move to Malta?¹⁰

Before moving to another country, it’s good to know what you can expect when it comes to living costs.

In general, the cost of living in Malta is lower than in the UK. You’ll pay almost 22% less for rent on average and around 10% less for groceries. However, the prices can depend on the city you choose to live in.

Let’s take a look at a few average prices for common spending categories in Malta, compared with the UK:

• A three-course meal for two costs the same in Malta and in the UK on average, around £60
• A loaf of bread is around £0.98, compared to £1.21 in the UK
• A draught beer is around £3, compared to £4.2 back in the UK
• A monthly public transport pass is approximately £22, compared to £68 in the UK
• Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre is around £800, compared to £1,064 in the UK
• Utilities for a typical apartment are around £81 a month, compared to £251 in the UK

If you want to invest in an apartment, this is also cheaper in Malta. For instance, the price per square metre to buy a city centre apartment is almost 40% lower than in the UK.

Healthcare system¹¹

Malta has a good quality public healthcare system that’s free to all working residents. The public sector is tax-funded, along with contributions to national insurance from employers, employees and the self-employed.

Private insurance is popular among both locals and expats, since it allows you to avoid waiting lists. Some investment resident schemes require getting private health insurance.

Opening a Maltese bank account¹²

After moving to Malta from the UK, opening a Maltese bank account should be next on your checklist. Having it is essential for everything from paying rent and bills to everyday expenses and managing your money.

Banks in Malta allow foreigners to open accounts, but they usually need to have a registered Maltese address. In order to open a bank account, you need to provide your passport, proof of address and an application form. Some banks might ask for additional documents, such as a reference letter from your previous bank.

You can start the application process while still in the UK, but it’s not possible to finish it online. Make sure you contact the bank directly and find out which exact documents you need to provide. There are three local banks in Malta - APS Bank, Bank of Valletta and BNF.

You should also check whether you can keep using your UK account in Malta.

And, as an alternative to a bank account, check out the Wise account. You can send, receive, and spend in multiple currencies, including British pounds and euros. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

Learn more about the Wise account 💰

Finding a job in Malta¹³

One of Malta’s official languages is English, so this will be your advantage when looking for employment. However, since the UK is no longer in the EU, employers will prioritise Maltese and EU candidates over UK nationals. Once they prove that no EU candidates can fill the position, it can then be given to a third country national.

In order to work in Malta, you need a Single Permit issued by Identità or an Employment Licence issued by Jobsplus, Malta’s public employment service. This process can take up to 4 months, so make sure you plan accordingly.

If you’re the entrepreneur type, you can consider starting a business in Malta. Malta’s favourable tax regime and short registration time make it a growingly popular destination for UK businesses.¹⁴

Renting or buying property in Malta¹⁵

Finding a place to live is one of the most important things when starting a life in a new country. Whether you’re renting or buying property in Malta, deciding on a suitable apartment will most likely require patience.

Even when it comes to renting, you should consider hiring an estate agent. This way, an expert can help you find just what you’re looking for. You could even get access to some unlisted properties. If you’d like to get an idea of the apartment offer in Malta, these are some popular property websites:

• Property Market
• Indomio
• QuickLets
• Easy Rent Malta

You can buy property in Malta as a foreigner and the easiest option is choosing one that’s in a Special Designated Area (SDA). This way, you can buy one or multiple properties without needing a permit

If you’d like to buy property outside the SDAs, you need a permit called Acquisition of Immovable Property Permit (AIP). You’ll be able to buy one property only and live in it, which means you can’t rent it out.

📚 Read more: How to transfer large amounts of money from the UK?

Checklist for moving to Malta from the UK

Let’s go through the most important steps of moving to Malta:

• Research available visa options, gather your documents and apply for your visa
• Find a place to live - this may also require you to travel to Malta to look at properties
• Get quotes for shipping your belongings to Malta
• Do some research on banks in Malta, find some that suit you and see what documents they require
• Look into taking out a private health insurance policy
• Tell HMRC that you’re leaving the UK
• Book your flight

Save on your relocation costs to Malta with Wise

Before moving to a new country, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and Malta for low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s not a bank account but offers many similar features.

You can also use Wise once you arrive in your new home. For starters, you can spend in EUR from the moment you step off the plane using your contactless Wise card. It works in 150+ countries and automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

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Sources used:

1. National Statistics Office of Malta - Census of population and housing 2021
2. Immigration Advice Service - Emigrate to Malta from the UK
3. Global Residence Index - MPRP Golden Visa Guide 2024
4. Identità - EU Blue Card
5. Skyscanner - London to Malta
6. Skyscanner - Flights for London to Valletta
7. Malta Sotheby's Realty - Retiring To Malta From UK After Brexit
8. Gov.uk - State Pension if you retire abroad
9. Worldometers - Malta population
10. Numbeo - Cost of living in the UK compared to Malta
11. Immigrant Invest Malta - Healthcare in Malta
12. Immigrant Invest - How to open a bank account in Malta
13. Jobsplus - Non-EU Nationals
14. Immigrant Invest Malta - Creating a company in Malta
15. Immigrant Invest Malta - How to buy real estate in Malta

Sources last checked on date: 01-May-2024